Antonelli Tops Disrupted FP2 at Spa as Storms Threaten Belgian GP Qualifying

Kimi Antonelli topped a disrupted second practice session at Spa-Francorchamps on Friday, outpacing Lando Norris by just under two tenths as two red flags interrupted teams' preparations for the Belgian Grand Prix. With Mercedes' championship leader continuing his strong form and storms threatening Saturday's qualifying, the weekend at one of Formula 1's most unpredictable venues is already living up to its reputation.

Why it matters:

Antonelli's pace reinforces his status as the driver to beat in 2026, but Spa-Francorchamps is a circuit where grid position can unravel in an instant. With weather expected to play a major role in qualifying, the fight for pole could become a lottery that reshapes the competitive order established in Friday practice.

The details:

• Antonelli led FP2 with a time that put him 0.2s clear of McLaren's Lando Norris, while Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton completed the top four.
• The session was halted twice: first by gravel on track, then by a crash for Alpine's Pierre Gasly at Les Fagnes, costing teams valuable long-run data ahead of Sunday's race.
• Saturday's forecast carries a genuine threat of storms during qualifying, which could force teams into split strategies on a long lap where conditions vary dramatically from sector to sector.
• Sunday's race is expected to be cooler than Friday, meaning the limited dry running teams managed could prove even less representative of grand prix conditions.

What's next:

Final practice begins at 12:30pm CEST on Saturday, with qualifying following at 4:00pm CEST. Teams will be watching the radar closely, as any rainfall during the hour-long session could turn Spa's seven-kilometer layout into a treacherous challenge where timing an out-lap becomes as important as raw pace.